Intel is surely bringing jobs back to US with its investment of $7 billion in its Arizona facility Fab 42 which originally took construction for its 14nm processor manufacturing. However due to efficiency at its existing factories, the company was able to defer using Fab 42 for future technologies.

That time has come, Anne Keheller Vice President and General Manager of Technology and manufacturing is prepping up the building which started in 2011 in the deserts for 7 nanometer processors. A big deal for Intel.

The new facility, will be using “white space” a clean room area that is already built but does not have any equipment installed. The equipment is generally the most expensive part of building out a fab which represents a large investment from both a capital and a people perspective. It also means the Arizona site will ultimately manufacture 22 nm, 14 nm and our future 7 nm products. It will be a busy place, producing IA microprocessors and supporting IA chips.

Second half of the year, Intel will be shipping its 10nm products code named Cannon Lake and already the largest chip manufacturer is getting ready for 7nm. Is it too early, Anne doesn’t think so, “we always start preparing our factories several years before products becomes available. The timing is right for us to get ready for 7 nm technology in our factories.” As to when and where the next factory will emerge, “we haven’t made that decision right now, and we won’t be making that decision until next year”.